Fishing lure



J. P. MESSLER Feb. 4, 1964 FISHING LURE Filed July 30, 1962 III/1,.

IDII

I I I I 'I I I I I I I I I osEPH R M TTORNEYS United States Patent O3,120,074 FEHTNG LURE .los-spat. I'vessier, 723 E. Znd St., Tuisa, Dida.Filed `luy 30, 19'52, Ser. No. 213,239 lt) Claims. (Cl. 43-35) Thisinvention relates to a fishing lure, and more part icularly to anartificial bait which is snag-resistant or weedless and yet highlyefiicient in hooking fish.

The conventonal snag-resistant fishing lure includes a sprmg-mountedWire or the like which urges marine plants or debris away from the bightof the hook but is intended to be easily compressed out of the way whenthe lure is swallowed by a fish. Such devices, of necessity, offerresistance against hooking in the most critical area, that is at thepoint or barb of the hook and the lure may be disgorged before embeddingin the fish. Other 'weedless fishing lures have been developed which usea taut line secured at the forward end thereof and a slack line securedat the rear and have a hook with the bight pointing rearwardly. Theforward line is intended to break when the lure is swallowed by a fishwhereby slaclc is taken up on the line connected to the rear for turningthe lure around within the fish to present the bight of the hook in adirection which snags the fish. Such devices, however, require thecontinual replacement of the broken forward line with special lines ofhighly predictable tensile strength and also presupposes sufficient roomwithin the fish for the lure to bodily turn to a rear-forward positionwithout being withdrawn or disgorged. Additional weedless fishing lureshave been developed having hooks which are normally positioned on thelure with the bight pointing rearwardly, however, the hook is held by aspring clip and the action of the fish swallowing the lure must resultin a deiinite separating force between the lure and the curved portionof the hook in order to release and move the hoo into a position whereit can bite into the fish. Still other *weedless fish lures heretoforehave carried hooks with the points thereof maintained in a protectedposition wit in or behind the lure and include spring-urged mechanismsfor moving the hooks outwardly when sufiicient line drag is appliedthereon due to swallowing by a fish.

The prior art 'vleedless lures, with the exception of those using acompressible wire for protecting the hook bight, are generally not welladaptable for use under fishing conditions which call for soft bait suchas an artificial worm or other fieXible-appearing animal. In addition,the prior art devices above-mentioned have proved to be relativelycomplex, expensive and often unreliable in use.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide aweedless fishing lure which is well adapted to be embodied in acharacterization of a flexible bodied animal such as a worm; to providesuch a lure which is of extrernly simpie construction and yet snag-proofwithout the use of auxiliary guards or devices; to provide an artificialfish bait wherein the hook nonnally travels through the water with therounded portion facing forwardly but is automatically turned within themouth of a fish with minimal effort; to provide such a fishing lurewhich requires an exceedingly small space within the fish for rotatingthe hook; to provide such a device which relies upon the longitudinalstretchability of an elongated arth'icial worm or the like to induce therotation of the hook to an einbedding position within the fish; toprovide such a *tveedless device which may be easily adapted for deepwater fishing or surface water fishing; to provide such a fish baitwhich may include suitable skirts, bucktails, water popping devices orViolent motion-producing devices; and to provide such an artificial lurewhich is inexpensive, requires no maintenance and displays only minimalportions of the hook.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be- ICC 2 comeapparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccornpanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration andexample certain embodirnent of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a fisling lure embodying thisinvention secured to a fishing line and being drawn forwardly beneaththe surface of the water.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional View talten longitudinally through thefishing lure and iilustrating the lure in a normal or unhooiedcondition.

FiG. 3 is a view in side elevation of the fishing lure with the hookrotated into a fish embedding position due to stretching of the lurebody between the mouth of a fish and the front end of the lure.

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevaticn showing another embodiment of thefishing lure having a skirt or bucktail secured in the hook area.

PIG. 5 is a view in side elevation of a further embodiment of thisinvention with a portion broken away to show a popper fioat at theforward end thereof for top water fishing.

FTG. 6 is a fragmentary view of a still further embodiment of thisinvention with a portion broken away to show a bill embedded in theforward end thereof for inducing violent agitation or action of the lurein the water.

Referring to the drawings in more detail:

The reference numeral l indicates generally a weedless fishing lureernbodying this invention. The fishing lure ll, in the illustratedexample, is in the form of a worm which has an elongated elastic,flexible, easily stretchable body 2. of any suitable waterproofmaterial. The body Z is comprised of a forward end 3 and a real' end 4and an intermediate portion 5 and is preferably molded with ring-likedepressions 6 and an enlarged cylindrical member 7 to give theappearance of a natural worm.

A fish hook is preferably composed of double hook portions 9 and 10extending outwardiy from each other at a non-critical angie ofapproximately degrees. The hook portions 9 and lt each have a curvedsection 11 located on one end of the fish hook and the hook portions 9and lt) lead into adjacent relation to form a common or intermediatefish hook portion 12. An eyelet 13 is formed on the end of the fishhooit 3 opposite from the curved portions ll.

The fish hooi; 8 extends obliquely through the elastic body 2 adjacentthe body rear end 4, as best illustrated in FTG. 2. The fish hookintermediate portion 12 is at least partially ern'oedded in and retainedby the body 2 and the hcok portions 9 and lit) and eyelet 13 are exposedon opposite sides of the body 2. The curved Sections ll of the fish hook3 each terminate in a bight or barbed point M which points generally inthe direction of the body rear end 4 when the lure body Z is in thenormal unstretched condition, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Referringparticularly to FIG. 2, the eyelet portion 13 is located substantialiythe length of the hook intermediate portion 12 closer to the body rearend 4 than the curved Sections li when the body 2 is unstretched.

A retaining member, -in the illustrated example a lead sinher i? fordeep fishing, is substanti'ally completely embedded in and retained withrespect to the body forward end 3, HG. 2. The sinker T5 has a Wire 16extending longitudina-lly therethrough land terminating exteriorly atopposite ends thereof in eyelet's 1'7 and 18. The eyelet 1'7 receives iasuitable leade'r line or fishing line 19 in the usu'al manner, and theeyelet 15B has a control line 26 seoured at one end thereto for aPurpose desoribed hereinafter. For shallow fishing or for a floatinglure a lighter material, such as Wood, cork or the like, may besubstituted for the lead sinker 15.

A d'rilied 'head or anchor member 21 receives and .is

secured to the other end of the line 2b and is of greater diameter thanthe fish book eyelet 13. The control line extends through the fish hookeyelet 13 whereby' the eyelet is free to slip along the line 22') but ispositively retained on the line 20 between the bead 21 and the sinliereyelet 13, FIG. 2. The control lline Zi, in the illustrated example,extends longitudinally Within the body 2 from the sinker eyelet 18 to apoint 22 located approximately midway of the body 2 from which thecontrol line Ztl continues rearwardly externally of the body to the bead21. The control line 29 has a length which approximates the distancebetween the sinker eyelet 13 and the hook eyelet 13 when the body Z isin the normal or `unstretched condition.

Referring to FIG. 1, when the lure 1 is drawn through the water andStrikes debris 2.3, there is litle tendency of the fish hook 8 to snagsince the curved portions 11 are facing forwardly and the point or bight14t- :is facing away from the direction of motion. When, however a fishcloses its mouth about the lure, as indicated by the broken lines 24 inFIG. 3, the drag placed thereon between the fish and the fishing 'line19 causes the body 2 to stretch. '1`he control line 2G does not stretchunder such con-ditions but merely slips through the month of the fishand causes the body 2 to bend and the fish hook 8 to rotate 180 degrees,presenting the point 14 in a forward direction for snagging andembedding into the month of the fish.

fllhe line 2G may move with respect to the body 2 at the portion 25which extends within the lure body to increase the length over which thebody may stretch. It i's noted that the greater portion of the tensileforces caused by booking the fish are taken up by the control line 20and not the lure body 2 whereby the lure body may be fabricated of verysoft, pliable material for more life-like reproduction without undueregard to the tensile strength thereof under load.

.An additional embodiment of |this invention is shown in FIG. 4 whereina skirt or bucktail 26 is fastened by a suitable ring 27 about the body2 of the lure 1 and covering the hook big'ht. The skirt or bucktail 26does not interfere with the operation of the lure since the portion ofthe body 2 located between the ring 27 and the sinker 15 is the portionwhich Will usually stretch for rotating the hook 8.

Referring to FIG. 5, a further embodiment of this invention isillustrated wherein the sinker 15 is replaced by a float 28 for topwater fishing. In the illustrated example, the fioat 28 is hollowed at23 adjacent the fishing line eyelet 30 permitting 'the fisherman to*'pop the lure in the usual manner for attracting fish when conditionsso require.

A still further embodiment 'of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 6wherein a bill member 3 is substituted for the sinker 15. The bill 31will cause the lure to violently agitate or Wiggle as it is drawnthrough the water after being oast or when trolling to better attractfish when conditions so require. If desired, a conlining rigid band 32may be placed about the body 2 near the forward end 3 and a bead 33 maybe fixed to the line 2b immediately rearwardly of the band 32 wherebyslippage of the line 20 through the body 2 may be retarded by bandinterferenoe with the bead 33.

It is to be understood that although the body 2 has been described asbeing entirely fiexible, the fish book 8 may be embedded in a rigidmember without departing from the scope of this invention so long as afiexible joint is provided about which the hook can pivot and astretchable portion is present |to permit a relative movement withrespect to 'a control line for pivoting the book. It is to be furtherunderstood that although certain forms of this invention have beenillustrated and desoribed, it is not to be limited to the specific formor arrangement of parts heren described and shown except insofar as suchlimitations are included in the claims.

l. A fish lure comprising:

(a) an elongated body having at least a portion thereof elastic andflexible and ensily stretchable, said body having a forward end and arear end,

(b) an elongated fish hook having a curved section on one end thereofand an eyelet on the other end thereof and an intermediate portiontherebetween,

(c) said fish hook being mo'unted on said body with an intermediateportion of said body between said book and said forward end, said curvedsection terminating in a point pointing generally in the direction ofsaid body rear end when said body is in an unstretched condition,

(d) said eyelet portion being located substantially the length of saidhook intermediate portion closer to said body rear end than said curvedsection,

(e) a retaining member mounted on said body near said body forward end,

(f) a control line secured at one end thereof to said retaining memberand anohored at the other end 'thereof in said eyelet, said control linebeing free from said body between said eylet and at least a portion ofsaid body intermediate portion adjacent said hook,

(g) said control line being a length approxirnating the distance betweensaid reta-inin g member and said eyelet when said body is in anunstretched condition,

and

(lz) means on said retaining member for securing same to a fishing line,whereby said body normally presents hook With the point pointedrearwardly to avod snagging but at least partially stretches undertension causing said control line Vto turn said hook for hooking a fishbiting on said body.

2. The fish lure of claim 1 wherein:

(a) said fish hoolt extends obliquely through said body adjacent saidbody rear end.

3. The fish lure of claim 2 wherein:

(a) said hook curved section and eyelet are exposed on opposite sides ofsaid body.

4. The fish lure of claim 1 wherein:

(a) said retaining member is at least partially embedded in said bodyforward end.

5. The fish lure of clairn l Wherein:

(a) said control line extends over a portion of the length thereoflongitudinally Within said body.

6. A fish lure comprising:

(a) 'an elongated elastic flexible easily stretchable body having aforward end and a rear end and an intermediate portion,

(b) an elongated fish hook having a curved section on one end thereofand an eyelet on the other end thereof and an intermediate portiontherebetween,

(c) said fish hook extending obliquely through said elastic bodyadjacent said body rear end, said fish hook intermediate portion beingat least partially embedded in and retained by said body, said curvedsection and eyelet being exposed on opposite sides of said body, saidcurved portion terminating in a barbed point pointing generally in thedirecton of said body rear end when said body is in an unstretchedcondition,

(d) said eyelet portion being located substantially the length of saidbook intermediate portion closer to said body rear end than said curvedsection,

(e) a retaining member at least partially embedded in and retained withrespect to said body forward end,

() an anchor member of greater diameter than said eyelet,

(g) a control line secured at one end thereof to said retaim'ng member|and extending through said eyele't 8. Thefish lure of claim 6 -Whereinzand seoured at the other end thereof to said anohor (a) Said fetafingmember S a Sinkel'- member, 9. The fish lu're of olafim 6 Wherein: (h)vsaid contnol line being a length approximating (a) Sflld Ietalmlflgmelbef IS a flfmtthe distance between said retaining mem'ber and said 510' T11? fish lflf Of 01mm 1 Whefeflfl eyelet when said body [is in anunstretched condi- (a) Said fetamlng member lnhldes a band encmcl-mgtion, amd said body and lsaid control line near said forward (i) meanson Said retaining member for Secung same end and a bead secured to said'control line for interto a fishing line, Whereby said body normallypre- 10 ferIlCe With Said bandsents said hook with the point pointedrearwardy to Ri'e es 't 'thfi tt avold snagging but stretches undertension causing e e ne Cl mi m e le of tms Pa en said control line toturn said hozok for hoo'king a fish UNITED STATES PATENTS biting on saidbody. 2,290,433 Jefiers July 21, 1942 7. The fish -lure of claim 6Wherein: 15 2,792,662 Norton May 21, 1957 (a) said body is in the 'formof an earthworm. 2,912,784 Carlin Nov. 17, 1959

1. A FISH LURE COMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATED BODY HAVING AT LEAST APORTION THEREOF ELASTIC AND FLEXIBLE AND EASILY STRETCHABLE, SAID BODYHAVING A FORWARD END AND A REAR END, (B) AN ELONGATED FISH HOOK HAVING ACURVED SECTION ON ONE END THEREOF AND AN EYELET ON THE OTHER END THEREOFAND AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION THEREBETWEEN, (C) SAID FISH HOOK BEINGMOUNTED ON SAID BODY WITH AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID BODY BETWEENSAID HOOK AND SAID FORWARD END, SAID CURVED SECTION TERMINATING IN APOINT POINTING GENERALLY IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID BODY REAR END WHENSAID BODY IS IN AN UNSTRETCHED CONDITION, (D) SAID EYELET PORTION BEINGLOCATED SUBSTANTIALLY THE LENGTH OF SAID HOOK INTERMEDIATE PORTIONCLOSER TO SAID BODY REAR END THAN SAID CURVED SECTION, (E) A RETAININGMEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID BODY NEAR SAID BODY FORWARD END, (F) A CONTROLLINE SECURED AT ONE END THEREOF TO SAID RETAINING MEMBER AND ANCHORED ATTHE OTHER END THEREOF IN SAID EYELET, SAID CONTROL LINE BEING FREE FROMSAID BODY BETWEEN SAID EYELET AND AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID BODYINTERMEDIATE PORTION ADJACENT SAID HOOK, (G) SAID CONTROL LINE BEING ALENGTH APPROXIMATING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID RETAINING MEMBER AND SAIDEYELET WHEN SAID BODY IS IN AN UNSTRETCHED CONDITION, AND (H) MEANS ONSAID RETAINING MEMBER FOR SECURING SAME TO A FISHING LINE, WHEREBY SAIDBODY NORMALLY PRESENTS HOOK WITH THE POINT POINTED REARWARDLY TO AVOIDSNAGGING BUT AT LEAST PARTIALLY STRETCHES UNDER TENSION CAUSING SAIDCONTROL LINE TO TURN SAID HOOK FOR HOOKING A FISH BITING ON SAID BODY.